Barry Dean Karl was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the second of the three sons of Anne Simons Karl and Aaron Karl. He was educated in the public schools of Louisville.

He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...

 in 1949, a master's from the University of Chicago

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...

 in 1951, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

 in 1961. He was the associate editor in the Humanities and History at the University of Chicago Press (1951–53). At Harvard, he was the executive secretary to the Committee on General Education (1959–1961) and senior tutor at Eliot House

Eliot House

Eliot House is one of twelve residential houses for upperclassmen at Harvard University and one of the seven original houses at the College. Opened in 1931, the house was named after Charles William Eliot, who served as president of the university for forty years .-Traditions:Before Harvard opted...

 (1961–62). He was professor of History at Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...

 (1962–68), professor of History at Brown University

Brown University

Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...

(1968–71) and the University of Chicago (1970–1996) where he held the Norman and Edna Freehling Chair in History and the Social Sciences. He chaired the Department of History from 1976 to 1979. At the University of Chicago he chaired the Faculty Committee of the Benton Program for Fellowships in Broadcast Journalism in Broadcast Journalism (1982–86) and the Committee to Plan the University's Centennial. From 1982 to 1988, he served as special advisor to President Hanna Gray.

External links

• "Barry Karl Named First Bloomberg Professor", The Harvard University Gazette, May 15, 1997.
• "Barry D. Karl, historian of America politics and expert on philanthropy, 1927-2010", "The University of Chicago," July 9, 2010.
• "Barry D. Karl and the Historical Profession", Stan Katz, "The Chronicle of Higher Education," July 10, 2010.